Ferdinand alfred reichardt



N0. 6Il,023. Patented Sept. 20, I898.

F. A. REICHARDT.

SURGICAL CASE.

(Application filed July 31. 1897.

(No Model.)

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SURGICAL CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,023, dated September 20, 1898. Application filed July 31, 1897. Serial No. 646,673- (No modeL To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND ALFRED REICHARDT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Surgical Cases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The invention relates to the construction of surgical cases and their contained appliances, and more especially to such as are designed to be carried in the pocket and to carry holders for thread and needles or other small surgical instruments; and it consists in certain features of construction of the case and of the thread-holders therefor, as hereinafter described, and fully set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing the case open, with a needle-carrier secured in one side of the case and thread-holders in the other. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section through one of the thread-holders. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latch-spring; and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the latch-spring from the reverse side, showing the manner of attaching said spring.

The case (the two parts are indicated at 1 2) is formed, preferably, of aluminium, as being lighter and less liable to become tarnished or contaminated than other metals except the more expensive ones, though other metals can be employed if desired. It is composed of two shallow and, preferably, substantially rectangularly shaped parts or pans, having rounded corners to prevent injury to the pocket, the flanges 3, which meet to form the hollow case when closed, being formed integral with the top and bottom or sides of the case, as are also the ears & of the hinge which unites the two parts, the alternate ears being formed on the opposite parts of the case. The end flanges are provided with inwardly-projecting oppositely-disposed lugs or keepers 5 forapurpose thatwill appear, and which also are formed integral with the case sides or flanges. They may, however, be made separate and soldered or otherwise secured to the case-flanges.

6 indicates a lip formed on the free side flange of the part 1, and 7 a catch formed on a spring 8, secured tothe opposing flange of part 2 for engaging said lip 6 and locking the parts together when closed. The spring has formed integral with it on its free end an upwardly-projecting arm, on which the catch 7 is formed, and an outwardly-projecting spur or arm 9,which passes through a slot or perforation in the casing-flange and forms a push button or spur for actuating the spring 8 to release the latch and allow the case to be opened, the spring acting to cause the latch to automatically engage the lip 6 when the case is closed. The casing-flange is provided with a hook-shaped lip 10 for engaging one end of the spring, said end being further se- 1 cured to the flange by a rivet at 11. Within the two parts of the case the thread-holders and needle carrier are secured, the latter consisting of a base-plate 12, provided near its ends with upright lugs 13, to which the ends of a delicate and finely-wound spiral spring 14 are secured and between the coils of which the needles or other delicate surgical instruments are placed and held in a manner that will readily be understood. The ends of the base-plate are adapted to be passed under opposing lugs or keepers 5, and the needle-carrier is thereby held snugly in the case.

The thread-holders 16 for the silk or catgut are formed of a resilient material and arching or concave on one side and convex on the other and have the ends expanded in width to form enlarged heads or wings to receive the silk, catgut, or other thread Wound upon them, as indicated at 19. The extreme ends of these holders are depressed, as indicated at 17, to adapt them to pass under and be held by the keepers 5, as shown. 16 is shown provided with a central expansion or with Wings at 18, which serve to adapt the holder to receive different strands or materials, and these, like the end wings, being bent downward at their outer ends, serve to hold the intermediate spool portions with the thread wound thereon out of contact with the side plates or walls of the case, and the thread may be further protected by being wrapped with tin-foil or other suitable covering, as indicated at 20. The thread-holders are bent or curved between their ends, and, being formed of resilient material, when the ends The holder are pressed down to be engaged with the retaining lugs or keepers 5 by being passed laterally under them the resilience of the holder serves to hold it snugly when so engaged.

By making the thread and needle holders as described they take up but little space in depth and so permit the case to be made quite shallow, thereby adapting it to be conveniently carried in the pocket.

The case constructed as described is thoroughly aseptic, and with the needle-carrier and thread-holders made readily removable the case and all its appliances can be separately and quickly sterilized by being subjected either to dry or steam heat, as may be deemed expedient.

Having thus described the invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a surgical case, a thread-holder formed from resilient material and made arching or curved intermediate its ends and provided with expanded ends, for the purpose and substantially as described.

2. In a surgical case, a thread-holder composed of resilient material made arching or curved intermediate its ends and having depressed ends, in combination with retaining lugs or keepers in the case for engaging the ends of said holder, substantially as described.

3. In a surgical case, a removable threadholder composed of resilient material and having expanded and depressed ends, in combination with the oppositely-disposed end lugs adapted to engage the ends of said holder or torelease the same by a lateral movement of the holder relative to said lugs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of July, A. D. 1897.

F. ALFRED REICIIARDT.

lVitnesses:

A. E. ELVVIN, (J. 13. TEULON. 

